According to reports, jazz leader Mike Conley Jr. has joined the 2021 NBA All-Star Game List. according to Tony Jones of Athletic. Conley’s addition to the mid-season festivities is pending his authorization from the league’s medical protocols.
Conley will replace Suns guard Devin Booker, both in the All-Star Game and in the 3-point contest. Booker is dealing with one sprained left knee.
Conley, 33, in his 14th NBA season, will make his first appearance in the All-Star category. This year he has averaged 16.1 points, 5.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game over 29 games, his second with the Jazz.
In the All-Star draft between Team LeBron and Team Kevin Durant, the last two options were Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the Jazz All-Stars. The decision felt like a rejection against the team currently leading the Western Conference, especially because LeBron noted that his team needed size before choosing the 6’11 “Domantis Sabonis over the 7’1” Gobert.
Mitchell and Gobert sparked league anger recently when they criticized the trade after a loss over extra time against the 76ers. Mitchell called ridiculous the missed calls perceived by the referees against the Jazz, while Gobert believed that the Jazz would get the short end of the stick due to their status as a small team in the market. Both players received a fine for their comments from the league on Friday.
“We’re not able to get calls that everyone in the league f —— receives,” Gobert said. “We know we’re the Utah Jazz and there may be people who don’t want to see us get as far as I think we can.”